The show vs. performance

[Toejam]

So you are saying you never had to abandon your car on the 405 at the Alameda ramp and walk down to the track because the line of cars trying to get in was way too long?

Jay, I gather your referring to Orange County which held just 16,000 seats according to Charlie Allen! Pomona held 44,000 before the went to 1000' and closed the last 2 sections. No comparison between the 70's and today!

 

[Nick Name]

I am referring to a typical Saturday funny car show at Lions. Joe, you just don't seem to understand, or don't want to. Drag racing used to be a big deal.

 

[Muddy]

Joe, You simply refuse to realize that drag racing used to be mostly a participation activity and that's why most of us liked it. Today it's mostly a spectator activity and many of us don't enjoy it nearly as much...not saying everyone hates it but it's darn sure not as much fun. As a result, those of us who knew it as a participation activity don't go much and take time to gripe about it. Nostalgia races bring back the illusion we might be able to do it again how ever unfounded the notion might be.

 

[glofria]

Drag racing was and still is a participating activity. Any given weekend anywhere in the world, people are participating in drag racing. With that said, drag racing is more popular now than ever before. It's just now more fractionalized (like many activities anymore).

I have no interest in going to an national event, but that does not make me a non-participant as we race our own car. Additionally, I feel that makes me more of a participate than one who only cares about what goes on with the pro classes. Sitting in the stands, collecting autographs and buying t-shirts does not make a racer. Racing makes a racer.

 

[Nick Name]

Right Gino. The participants can find a lot of drag racing activity to be involved in. It is only the big show that is on the ropes.

 

[T.Smith]

Jay, I gather your referring to Orange County which held just 16,000 seats according to Charlie Allen! Pomona held 44,000 before the went to 1000' and closed the last 2 sections. No comparison between the 70's and today!

In defense of the 70's, in those days there were way more opportunities to watch nitro cars. I'd be really curious to know what were the yearly attendance numbers for the whole country in those times.

 

[yoda]

...Fire the car, stage, & go? That will Hurt much more than help.

d'kid

Karl- you remember, as I do, in the beginning, they did just that. As late as the mid-Sixties... Didn't seem to hurt the show then...